The Committee of Correspondence, Inspection, & Safety for the Town of Newburyport, Would Beg Leave to Represent to your Honrs that a Sub Committee was appointed by them to Inspect all Vessels Arriving att or Departing from this Harbour, that the Regulations of the Honb[le] Congress or of this State might not be Violated, that While On their Duty On Board the Sloop two Friends, (which was Some time past Taken & Brot into this place, by Capts Obrian & [John] Lambert, And Acquitted by Court of Admiralty, held for this District,) William Hazen Master Bound for St Johns, they Were Informed of two Men, that were Bound to Nova Scotia in said Sloop and of whom it was Suspected, that if not prevented, they would be of Real Damage to this State to Let pass, Upon further Inquiry we were Satisfied as to the Unfitness of their Going and Prevented them, itt appeared they were to be Sent by Mr Epes Sargeant of Cape Ann, (the One being his Son & the Other a Master of a Vessel who had for Sometime past been in his Employ,) down to East passage, where he had a Snow and tis Said a Schr or two Laying, with Considerable Interest, we have Reason to think has for some time past been Employ'd in and Under the protection of that Government, By a Letter from Mr Epes Sargeant, which was Wrote Directly upon his being frustrated in this plan, to Capt [Joseph] Sayw[o]rd Master of his Snow there, and intercepted Just before the sloop Sail'd, fully Convince us of the above Suggestions,² ー We are Induced to Trouble your Honors with this Information, by a Report, that the said Mr Sargeant, did on his Leaving this Town, Hire a two Mast Boat, in Ipswich, & apply'd to a Friend in Salem, who procured a Commission for sd Boat, that she has Actually Sail'd, it is Supposed, Directly for East passage, and that his Son is gone in her, ー Which your Honrs will be pleased to Act upon as Shall in your Wisdom Seem fit,ー

Newbury port, 30th August 1776

[Endorsed] In Council [Watertown] Sept 14[th] 1776 On the Representation from the Committee of Newbury Port relative to Epes Sargeant ー Read & Ordered that the said Epes Sargent be notified to appear and make Answer in Council on Thursday the 26th Day of September Inst to such Matters as are in said Representation suggested to his Prejudice and that the Secretary be directed to.serve him the Said Epes Sargeant with a Copy of Said Representation and this Order thereon and also serve the Committee of the Town of Newbury Port with a Copy of the above Order that they may appear if they think proper.

John Avery Dpy Secy